I think race attendance is just down by ~25% this year. I had the conversation with a few people yesterday and I think it may be a compound effect that has been building for a few years. About 2-3 years ago we hit the market saturation point where there are quite literally 2-5 races every weekend across all disciplines from March through December (assuming a willingness to drive to Boston or Baltimore, which many people are). For a while people were just gorging on races but I think as the years go on, your available time, cash supply, ability to endure, home capital - all start to erode. I mean at one point in my life I did ~30 races a year. This lasted maybe 2 seasons and then reality starts to dictate that something has to give. I wonder if that reality is settling in across all these disciplines (road, mtb, cross, enduro, DH, etc).
I also think that as people drive further, the amount of money to spend racing gets tighter. If I am going to Baltimore for a Charm City double, I am dropping $400 for this weekend with gas/hotel/food/reg/etc. That used to be what I would spend on an entire cross season in NJ. This is just an example, and this perspective is only ONE of the various reasons. I think a lot of things add up across the spectrum. But IDK what the sum-total answer is.[/QUOTE